If a partnership between Samsung and Apple was on your list of 2019 predictions, then you hit the jackpot early. Ahead of CES today, Samsung announced that Apple will be bringing iTunes to its Smart TVs, along with support for AirPlay 2.
The app will actually be called iTunes Movies and TV Shows, and it will be available in over 100 countries. However, AirPlay 2 support will be in 190 countries. You"ll be able to use the app to play your existing content, as well as purchase new content from the iTunes Store. It will also support all of the built-in functionality of Samsung Smart TVs, like the Universal Guide and Bixby search.
This is the first time that iTunes has been made available on any non-Apple device, aside from when iTunes was brought over to Windows, so this is significant. Previously, the only way to watch iTunes content on a TV was to have an Apple TV. It"s possible that Apple is focusing more on services now than selling its Apple TV hardware.
“We look forward to bringing the iTunes and AirPlay 2 experience to even more customers around the world through Samsung Smart TVs, so iPhone, iPad and Mac users have yet another way to enjoy all their favorite content on the biggest screen in their home,” said Eddy Cue, senior vice president of Internet Software and Services at Apple.
iTunes will ship on all of Samsung"s 2019 Smart TVs, and it will be available for 2018 models via a firmware update.